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Angela Brady

Women in practice profile: Director, Brady Mallalieu Architects and President of the RIBA

SECTORS YOU WORK IN Housing, specialist healthcare, education and office interiors

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING FEMALE ARCHITECTS Architecture is a wonderful profession, particularly for women when you are your own boss. It can be flexible and fun and take you anywhere in the world

WHY WOMEN LEAVE To look after their first baby; the high cost of childcare

WHAT WOULD MAKE THEM STAY? Women need to be considered for senior positions, project leaders and not be overlooked; family-friendly practice accreditation; more women at board level; equal pay for same job levels; tax-deductible or rebated childcare; more creches in larger practices

HOW TO MAKE IT WORK Promote your achievements and don’t be shy in coming forward for promotion. Join www.women-in-architecture.com

ON CHILDREN There is never a right time to start a family– 37 is the average age for women architects to have their first child. A nanny share is affordable and good company. We have two teenage kids – strangely, neither wants to do architecture

CURRENT CHALLENGE In a downturn women are often the first to be let go. The fear of employers if you are in your mid-thirties and haven’t had kids yet! Returning to work after time off is often harder if there is no support system in place

ON SEXISM There is still sexism. Why else aren’t there more women in senior positions? You can tell a firm’s credentials by looking at their office structure

BEST DEFENCE AGAINST SEXISM Challenge it in a loud voice and stamp it out!

INSPIRATION I admire all the women who work in architecture. Their contribution to great buildings is often hidden within a team

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED Stand up for what you believe in and don’t take no for an answer!

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The Architects' Journal is the voice of architecture in Britain. We sit at the heart of the debate about British architecture and British cities, and form opinions across the whole construction industry on design-related matters